Bahraini Premier League

The Bahraini Premier League is the main football competition in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Currently known as the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League, the first season was held in 1957. The winners of the domestic championship qualify for the AFC Cup. The championship is currently contested by 12 clubs.

Bahraini Premier League
Founded1956 (1956)
CountryBahrain
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toBahraini Second Division
Domestic cup(s)King's Cup
FA Cup
Super Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
AFC Cup
Current championsAl-Khaldiya (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsAl-Muharraq (34 titles)
TV partnersBahrain Sports TV
Current: 2022–23 Bahraini Premier League

Structure

Current structure

12 clubs currently play a two round robin set of fixtures totaling 22 games in order to determine the league champions. Although games are played on a home and away basis, almost all games are played at the National Stadium.

The eleventh and twelfth-placed clubs are relegated with the ninth and tenth enter the relegation play-offs.

Previous structures

In earlier seasons, the league has been radically overhauled to feature all the professional clubs of Bahrain. Instances being the 2008–09 and 2002 league seasons. The leagues featuring up to 19 teams would play each other on one occasion with the top 10 teams staying in the Premier League top flight and the bottom sides (from 11 to 19) forming the next seasons 2nd division.

Between the seasons of 2002 and 2009, the top four sides of the league would also play in the Crown Prince Cup.

Clubs (2023–24)

2022–23 Clubs' stadiums
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Ahli Manama Al Ahli Stadium (Bahrain) 10,000
Al-Hala Muharraq Muharraq Club Stadium 10,000
Al-Hidd Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000
Al-Khaldiya Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000
Al-Muharraq Muharraq Al Muharraq Stadium 20,000
Al-Riffa Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000
Al-Shabab Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000
Busaiteen SC Busaiteen
Al-Najma Manama
East Riffa Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000
Manama Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000
Sitra Riffa Bahrain National Stadium 24,000

Team re-structuring

In 2002, a host of clubs were amalgamated:

  • Bahrain is an amalgamation of Bahrain and Al-Khaleej.
  • Riffa is an amalgamation of West Riffa and Zallaq.
  • Al-Najma is an amalgamation of Al-Hilal, Al-Qadisiya and Ras Al-Rumman.
  • Al-Sahel is an amalgamation of Qalali and Hadd.
  • Al-Tadamun is an amalgamation of Boori, Karazkan, Hamla, Reef Union and Damastan.
  • Al-Shabab is an amalgamation of Deyya, Sanabis, Jadd Hafs, Naeem, Karrana, Sahla and Karbabad.
  • Al-Ittifaq is an amalgamation of Al-Arabi, Maqaba and Bani Jumra.

List of champions

Champions are:[1]

Total championships

The number of national championships that clubs in Bahrain have attained.

Club
 Number of Championships
Al-Muharraq SC34
Al-Riffa (includes West Riffa)14
Bahrain SC5
Al-Ahli SC5
Al-Hidd2
Al-Nasr1
Al-Arabi (Al-Najma now)1
Al Hala1
Al-Khaldiya1
East Riffa SCC1
Busaiteen1
Malkiya SCC1

Top scorers
Year Best scorers Team Goals
2003–04 BahrainDuaij Naser Abdulla
Yousif Zowaid		Al-Muharraq14 [2]
2004–05 BahrainSalman IsaAl-Riffa15 [3]
2005–06 BahrainJaycee John OkwunwanneAl-Ahli17 [4]
2006–07 BrazilRicoAl-Riffa25 [5]
2007–08 BahrainJaycee John OkwunwanneAl-Muharraq24 [6]
2008–09 BahrainAbdulrahman MubarakAl-Riffa14 [7]
2009–10 BrazilRicoAl-Muharraq17 [8]
2010–11 Brazil
Bahrain		Diego Silva
Abdulrahman Mubarak		Al-Ahli
Al-Riffa		13
2011–12 BahrainAhmed Al KhattalAl Hala14 [9]
2012–13 Saudi ArabiaMohammed Al ShamraniManama10 [10]
2013–14 BahrainPeleAl-Muharraq4 [11]
2014–15 BahrainIsmail AbdullatifAl-Muharraq16 [12]
2015–16 BahrainMohamed Al-RomaihiAl-Hidd17 [13]
2016–17 BrazilEvertonManama Club11 [14]
2017–18 NigeriaUcheAl Najma Club18 [15]
2018–19 SenegalMahamadou DraméAl Najma Club14 [16]
2019–20 BahrainKamil Al AswadAl-Riffa14 [17]
2020–21 BahrainMahdi AbduljabbarManama Club12
2021–22 BahrainMahdi AbduljabbarManama Club17
2022–23 BahrainMahdi Al-HumaidanAl-Khaldiya14[18]

References
  1. "Bahrain - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. "الدوري البحريني الممتاز". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
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  8. "الدوري البحريني الممتاز". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  9. "دوري الدرجة الأولى البحريني". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  10. "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  11. "دوري الدرجة الأولى البحريني". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  12. "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  13. "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  14. "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  15. "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  16. "دوري VIVA البحرين". www.kooora.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  17. "Bahraini Premier League". soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  18. "Bahraini Premier League". soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
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